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in the Chemical laboratory Edifed by N O R M A N V. STEERE, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., 55455
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which will open to relieve internal pressure; safety cans approved hy Factory Mutual Lshoratorie.i will pass the same tests and are equipped also with aflameously with the operations of malip IR~OIR- arresting metal sereon in the pouring spout t o prevent flashback if vapors are ignited. turies. Special safety cans are avaihhle for While planning and anticipation of need pouring, far waste storage, and far concan make it possible to reduce volumes venient storage on shelves. Bottle carstored in the laboratory to assure miinterriers lined with polyurethane foam are ~ n p t e d operat,ion, there is fundamental availahle which will afiard several minutes need of an adeqnately supplied stockroom protection from a. spill fire, and special in the building, backed by a good institnplrmps, self-clming faucets, and flametional storehouse of purchasing s.vstem. arresting vents for dmms are availahle. Such stockrooms and supply systems are necessary for any successful effort t o r e dnce quantities of chemicals stored in Labeling laboratories. The need for adequnte labeling exbends Conslruelion of Containers far heyond the immediate requirement,^ of the individual user, fiince the individual There is pmbably no qnest,ion hut that user may not be present in caqe of fire or glass is the only acceptable material for explosion when containem are bmken or cmtaining a v a r i e t ~of chemicals, inrlndspilled, and he may not be around years ing many high-pnrity solvents which are later when the containers have deterioflmma.ble. While ordinary metal or rated or otherwise lost their value. Thereplastic containers may provide great,er fore, wax pencil markings, abbreviations, protect,ion than glass fmm iupture hy imformdss only, and code names or ni~mhers pact fmm mishendling, none of the three types of containers are certain t o ~ ~ i t h s t m d shonld he avoided in favor of adequate labels. an expowre to a. laboratory fire. Another argument in favor of the labelMetal safety cans which will not mpture ing syst,ems deserihed here is that good or release contents suddenly in a fire are labels can serve lo help edilrirte shldents available interne plate, hat tin dip, monel and terhnicinna. or stainless steel, and in sizes from 4 i 3 ml ( 1 pint) to 18.9 litel..; ( 5 gal S.S.). Safety Basic Label Infornwlion cans approved h,v Underwriters LahoraThe ~ ~ e c o m m e n doft ithe Lahels w d turies, I m . will leak st a limited rate if Precnlrtiorrnl.v Inf,rmatir,n Cummittee of tipped over and have a spring-rlosing cap
XXXII. Containers and Labeling The vdome, material, nnd labeling of eontainem for chemienls have a significant, hearing on prevention and control of laborntur,v aeoidents. The duration and intensity of laboratory fires will begreatly increased if largo vohtmes of flammable solveitts hecome it~volved,whieh is likely to happen if there are man," glass bottles or cans larger than one liter stored in the lal,oratoly. Inadequate labeling of containers can he expected to result in pmhlems if the contents cannot be identified qrlieklv and positively, if the age of contents which may form peroxides cannot he determined redily, or if the fire, health, and reactivity hamrds of the contents m m t he found in a handbook or reference in the library.
Containers Volwne of Conlainem The volume of individual containers and t,he total volume of flammable mlvent? in the Inboritto~yshould be limited to the minimums practicable for research and ope&ions. The argoment against arhitrnry restrictions of container size or total volume is the interference which this causes with lnburatory operation. But the argument against unrestricted vohme and container size is the potential intense or pwlrmged fire which will interfere seri-
Volume 43, Number 12, December 1966 / A 1 0 5 7
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the Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. are basic, and are included in the MCA Manual L-1. Recommendations for information that should be considered for inclusion on the label are: Name of the chemical, preferably the chemical name, or the types of chemical. A signal word to indicate severity of hamrd (e.g., Danger, Warning, or Caution). Statement of hazards, with most serious first. Precautionary measures to be taken to avoid injury or damage from hazards stated. Instructions in case of contact or exposure if results are severe and immediate action may be necessary. Such information is now commonlv in-
Date and User Labeling We recommend that labels for laboratory chemicals be dated when issued and marked with the name of the user. if it, is to peroxidize or which are not common. The reason for identifying chemical containers by name and date is to make it possible and easier to identify compounds which are outdated, to relate quantity t o rate of use, and to know to whom to turn for advice on handling or disposal.
Flash Paint Labeling We believe that flammable m d combustible solvents should be labeled t o indude their flash mint as a means of recnenizing needs for ventilation, ignition source control, or other precaution.
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Hazard Labeling Laboratories of Union Carbide Corp., Western Electric, h e . , and the University of Minnesota are now using a very interesting and informative system of special labeling which we believe deserves wider use in all types of hhoratories. (See Fig. 1) The system is described in National Fire Protection Association Manual No. 704M-1966, although the foreword states that the authors do not envision application of the guide to chemical laboratories. The system identifies the order of severity of hazards from "4" to "0" (fromsevere hazard to no hazard) in the categories of hedth, flammability, and reactivity. The information is given in a marking system that codes hedth hazard on the left in blue, flammability in the upper center in red, and reactivity an the right in pllow; the spatial arrangements are t o be followed uniformly to guide persons who may be color blind. One oompany adds the words that state the hmard. The bottom center space can be used for additional infarmation such as radioactivity, unusual reactivity with water or air, and so forth. (Catinued a page A1081)
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Chemicals repackaged by the University of ~MinnesotaChemical Storehnnse, College of Pharmacy, and departments of Chemistv and Biochemistry sinre Sept. 1066 have had eulaccoded lxbelr t,, help laboratory and service personnel see a t a glance the hazards t o health and safety which would occur if the chemical were spilled 01.mishandled. Special precautions which w e recommended and mpplemental ilrformation given t o university departments include the following: Transport,ation and handling of chemiedls in hazard grades 3 and 4 require special precautions to prevent breakage, spills, or exposure t o fire. ventilation and fire-protected storage are required for safe me. Spills of grade 3 or 4 rhemicxls require prompt action. Keep people uut of the danger ares. and take artion to neotrhlize, absorb, emulsify, or ventilate the spill. Prevent fire hy keeping flames, spal.ks, and other ignition sources away from flnmmahle vnpow and gases. Flash points are shown fol. Rammahle ohemieals. Fln& puint is the I O W B S ~ temperatnre a t which the chemical will give oB' enough vapor for ignition to came a flash fi1.e or esplr,sion. Chemicrds wlrielr are highly flammable or only slight,ly sr,luhle in water are marked " 1 h Not 1)islxm of in Building
Ihaias." Such ehemirnls shonld be disposed of by calling Plant Servires for free weekly pickup. Departments that are interested in applying this hazard labeling system t o reagent and other chemicals may purchme the "Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials" for 84.i5 from T h e Rational Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St,reet, Boston, Mass. 02110.
Coming Soon in book form
SAFETY in the Chemical Laboratory All the articles in this colomn Rom their inception January 1964 throosh J~s,losry 1967 will be reprinted in our paporhack series. These articles will be g r o ~ ~ p eby d subject. mat,t,er. Also inchtded will he all the accident case histories.
